Lawan, Emenalo face trial for $3m ‘bribe’ today

The Federal Government yesterday filed a seven-count charge against the suspended Chairman of the House Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime, Mr. Farouk Lawan and the committee’s Secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo.

The trial of the suspects, under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of the ICPC, for alleged $3million bribery begins today in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT).

But the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Mr. Femi Otedola will not face trial because he reported every stage of the saga to security agencies.

Lawan and Emenalo will be prosecuted by a private counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

The arraignment of the suspects is sequel to the granting of an order for same yesterday by the trial judge, Mr. Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi.

Mr. Justice Oniyangi’s order, which was dated January 31, reads: “Upon careful consideration of the application and attached documents in support of same filed by the complainant’s counsel praying this Honourable Court for the following order: Application for leave to prefer a criminal charge under Section 185(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code against the Accused.

“Leave is hereby granted to the Complainant/ Applicant to prefer a a criminal charge under Section 185(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code against Hon. Farouk M. Lawan and Mr. Emenalo Boniface in the High Court.

“The case is fixed for the 1st day of February, 2013 for arraignment.”

In the charge sheet, dated January 29, 2013 and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mrs. O.O. Fatunde, the government said the suspects have to defend even allegations bordering on conspiracy to corruptly obtain $3million.

The charges are as follows: “ That you, Hon. Farouk Lawan and Mr. Emenalo Boniface sometime in April 2012 or thereabouts at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory did, while acting in the course of your official duties as Chairman and Secretary (respectively) of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime conspired between yourselves and with each other to corruptly obtain the sum of $3million for yourselves from Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited as inducement to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime’s Report and did cause the House of Representatives to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the said list and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) (c) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 8(1) of the same Act.

“That you Hon. Farouk…corruptly asked for $3million for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited on account of intention to afterwards show favour to the said Mr. Femi Otedola by removing the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) (a) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 8(1) of the same Act.

“That you Hon. Farouk… corruptly agreed to accept the sum of $3million for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola , the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited as an inducement to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (1) (a) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 17 (1) of the same Act.

“That you Hon. Farouk… corruptly obtained $500,000 for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola , the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited as an inducement to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17 (1) (a) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 17 (1) of the same Act.

“That you Mr. Emenalo Boniface, while being a public officer , an Assistant Director and Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime sometime in April 2012 or or thereabout at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did, while acting in the course of your official duty as Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime corruptly asked for the sum of $3million for yourself from Mr. Femi Otedola , the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited on account of afterwards showing favour to the said Mr. Femi Otedola by by removing the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) (a) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 8(1) of the same Act.

“That you Mr. Emenalo Boniface…was offered gratification by Mr. Femi Otedola , the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited and you failed to report the offer of gratification to any officer of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission or any police officer and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 23(1) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 23 (3) of the same Act.

“That you Mr. Emenalo Boniface…received the sum of $120,000 as gratification from Mr. Femi Otedola , the chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited in order to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the report of the said House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (a) (ii) of The Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 23 (3) of the same Act.”

The Nation learnt that Otedola will not face trial because he reported every stage of the saga to security agencies.

A source, who was part of the investigation, said: “Otedola did what a patriotic citizen should do by reporting the entire bribery process to security agencies.

“It was after discharging his duty that security agencies mandated him to play along with Lawan and Emenalo.

“It would amount to double jeopardy to prosecute a citizen who raised the alarm on outright case of corruption. So, Otedola will not face trial at all.”

Oh, Lord, it is only in Nigeria that someone like Lawan can occupy such a high sit in the name of Federal characters. Shortly, a goat will soon be appointed as a federal minister in the name of Federal characters.

otedola will not face trial after doing wat a patrotic citizen shld do and dat close d case for femi otedola waiting for national award,can FG tell me what will happen to those indited in d report we r still waiting to hear if there are also patrotic as otedola

Now that the report of Farouk Lawal had been faulted.Farouk is in the hot soup of corruption in the eye of government Femi Otedola now become a saint man.Who is decieving who.If the report of Farouk was influence by corruption what of the report of Nuru Ribadu.All people involved in oil scadal including Otedola a now free men.Who is decieving who.

Did you just say, Farouk would be jailed? Not in this Nigeria. This is because Nigeria legal system is a mockery. Farouk would only be asked to pay back may be 10% of the total money as fine & later on be given National award. Yesss oo, that is Naija for you where anything goes. Farouk who should have been hanged by now if it were to be in China.
GEJ, just continue with your mis-rule, we shall ‘OCCUPY NIGERIA’ very soon & you’ll be taught why it is good to leave behind an enduring legacy. CRIMINALS IN POWER

it is a house of representa-thieves,so what else do you exepct form them than bribery and corruption for removal of zenon oil and gas from list of subsidy thieves.

ICPC you also need to probe hope uzodinma/onyejeocha for doing hatchet man job for ARIK to close down other domestic airlines so ARIK can monopolise the domestic airlines indusrty and also make ARIK national carrier through the back door.

honestly, i salute The Nation News for the first time, because they covered opposition news (Otedola) without bias. keep it up. for the Lawan, i hope the House will not shield him, because it appears as if the House is covering these people. necessary punishments shld be meted out for all of them (Lawan n Emelano) n even Otedola himself if found culpable. God bless Nigeria!

we won’t be surprise whatever might be the out come of this judgement cos our judicial system has an ailment that only God and not human can heal. I am sure tribalism will affect the judgement since the three major tribes in Nigeria are involved; Otedola who is now a free man, Fa-crook Lawan and Emealo. So each will be fighting to free his own man just like Otedola has been freed without paying 750k like counterpart in the pension saga.

Kudo to ICPC, Yes Farouk, emenalo will face trial for their offences and otedola played along with the security fine. The point now is, for otedola to accepted the bribery payment it mean his company zenon oil and gas was involved in the oil subsidy scandal, now does this means he’s must be free despite his active involment in scandalous oil subsidy regime? This issue is beyond Farouk and emenalo, Otedola too must be tries like Tukur and Alli sons

Wel, if the judiciary wil be fair den let the law should take it cause. but nigeria whch way we dey folow? hw sure are we of the judgement. pls law should be like death that spears no one. God deliver nigeria

Lawan and his side kick do hard time in jail also never allowed to hold any govt.post after serving their jail terms. It seems the time of corrupt leaders is fast running out, we need more Otedolas,Ribadus etc to put a stop to all thats wrong with Nigeria right. Only then can we flurish as one country.